ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Conserv. Sci.
Sec. Global Biodiversity Threats
Volume 6 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fcosc.2025.1640398
This article is part of the Research TopicAdvances in Sustainable Watershed Resource ManagementView all articles
Integrating Nature-Based Solutions for resilient watershed management: a comparative study in urban and semi-urban watersheds of Panama and Honduras
Provisionally accepted
Laura Andrea Benegas Negri1*
Líber Ilyá Fino Rodríguez1
Carlina Felicia Mosquera Ballejos1,2
Ovidio Ibáñez López3- 1Centro Agronomico Tropical De Investigacion Y Ensenanza Catie, Turrialba, Costa Rica
- 2Ministerio de Ambiente Panamá, Panamá, Panama
- 3Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y Ensenanza, Turrialba, Costa Rica
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This study explores the operationalization of nature-based solutions (NbS) for watershed resilience in two contrasting Latin American contexts: the Caimito watershed in Panama and the El Coyolar watershed in Honduras. The methodological framework combined spatial multi-criteria analysis using GIS tools, participatory mapping with local stakeholders, and the classification of NbS based on ecological function and governance feasibility. Results show that a total of 1,220 ha and 1,870 ha were prioritized for NbS interventions in Caimito and El Coyolar, respectively. The most feasible practices included urban green corridors, riparian buffer restoration, and agroforestry infiltration systems. Notably, Panama followed an institutionally driven planning process, whereas Honduras adopted a community-led strategy. The study highlights the importance of integrating spatial tools with local knowledge to ensure effective and context-sensitive NbS implementation.
Keywords: Water resource management, Climate resilience, community and stakeholders engagement, Sustainable land use, governance
Received: 03 Jun 2025; Accepted: 03 Sep 2025.
Copyright: © 2025 Benegas Negri, Fino Rodríguez, Mosquera Ballejos and Ibáñez López. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Laura Andrea Benegas Negri, laura.benegas@catie.ac.cr
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